Combined belt-pin, garment-retainer, corset-protector, and waist-former.



F. M. KEARN S. GARMENT RETAINER, CORSET PRoTEcToR, AND WRIST FORMER.

COMBINED BELT RIN,

APPLICATION HLEI? 0032.19, 1908.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.-

A TTOHNE YS 7H: Namens persas ca., wAsmNcmN, n. c.

mvrrnn sTaTns PATENT ors-ion.

FRANK MICHAEL KEARNS, OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

COMBINED BELT-PIN, GARMENT-RETAINER, CORSET-PROTECTOR, AND WAIST-FORMER.

and at the same time to hold the belt in place and protect the corset against injury through repeated pinning of the garments thereto.

The invention consists in so forming the body of the device as to produce the eect of a belt. buckle, and to retain the belt and waist separately and hold each in the desired drawn-down position.

The device is prevented frommoving upwardly by attachment to the corset, and one important feature of my invention involves this attaching means, whereby repeated pinning of the parts and the adjusting of the same pro-duce no wear and tear on the adjacent portions of the corset.

Reference isl to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this speciiioation, in which similar characters of rcf-' erence indicate corresponding parts in all the figures, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved device as it appears when in use; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device directly attached to the corset, the skirt and waist being removed; Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the device and the portions of the garment attached thereto; Fig. 4 is a front view of the portion of the device connected to the corset; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rear of the pin-carrying member; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the member to be attached to the corset.

My improved device is made up of two separate members, one of which is shown in perspective in Fig. 5 and the other of which is shown in perspective in Fig. 6. The firstmentioned member is formed of sheet metal and is substantially U-shaped. The front portion or plate 10 of the U is the only portion of the device normally exposed to view and it may be stamped to present an ornamental design, or may be decorated in any suitable manner. This plate l0 is prefer- Speccation of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 19, 1908.

Patented Feb. 21, 1911.

Serial No. 458,419.

ably curved slightly so as to fit the figure and it preferably comes to an apex in the center at the lower edge. The upper edge of the plate is formed with outwardly and rearwardly-extending curved wing portions 11, which engage with the waist above the belt thereof, the front portion of the waist coming between these wings, as indicated particularly in Figs. 1 and 3. The rear portion of the front member is in the form of a vertically-extending bar 12, integral with the front plate `10 and connected thereto by a short transverse portion 13 extending rearwardly from the plate intermediate the two upwardly-extending wings 11. The bar 12 is substantially parallel to the general plane of the plate and terminates opposite to the lower apex of the latter. The space between the bar and the plate is suiiiciently wide to receive the belt, which latter is held against upward movement by its engagement with the connecting portion 13. The belt is prevented from doubling, folding or wrinkling, by reason of the limited distance between the plate and t-he bar.

Pivotally connected to the lower end of the bar is a pin 14, normally extending substantially parallel to the bar or spaced a short distance therefrom. The lower end of the bar is preferably bent back upon itself to form sleeves 15, while the pin is bent at right angles adjacent its end, to form a short connecting portion 16, the end of which is bent about a pivot pin extend-V ingthrough the sleeves 15. By bending the pin intermediate its ends, the main body of the pin may come parallel to the bar and spaced therefrom, and any tendency of the pin to become bent or broken during use is eliminated. In connection with this main member of my improved device, I employ a second member in the form of a fiat steel plate 17 inclosed in a strong fabric covering 18 and having a bar 19v extending longitudinally thereof and substantially parallel thereto. The ends of this bar are bent at right angles and extend through the fabric and are soldered or otherwise rigidly secured to the pla-te. The plate is slightly longer than the distance between adjacent hooks of the corset, so that the corset may be hooked together with two of the eyes 20 extending through the space between the bar 19 and the plate 17, as indicated particularly in Fig. 4. The plate is slipped in place before the corset is hooked together and is retained by the hooks and eyes of the cor-V set, so that it cannot lmove upwardly or downwardly save to a very limited extent.

The device may be held in place at the waist line or at any desired distance above or below the same, as it may be held by any two adjacent hooks and eyes of the corset.

The outer or belt-retaining member is fastened to the inner or base member by forc' ing the pin 14 upwardly through the fabric covering of the plate 17, as indicated particularly in Fig. 3. The plate prevents the pin from entering the corset and also prevents it from entering` between the meeting` edges of the corset to injure the person. The pin extends through the fabric to substantially its entire length and further upward movement thereof is limited by the transverse portion 16 of the pin.

After the device is secured in place, the lower portion of the waist is drawn into the desired position between the two 1nembers and down to the connect-ing portion 1G of the pin. The plate 10 and the wings 11 are then swung upwardly against the waist and the belt adjusted and secured in place between the plate 10 and the bar 16. The connecting portion 13 of these two limits the upward movementI of the belt and waist band, so as to hold the garment in position to produce a short or long-waist effect, and the tension of the belt brings the bar 12 toward the body and holdsthe outer plate 10 and its wings 11 closely against the waist. As the bar 12 is hinged at its lower end to the pin, it is evident that the tighter the belt is drawn, the more firmly the plate will be held in position, although the tension of the belt will not tend to raise the front portion of the belt.. The beltJ is held smoothly and securely between the bar and the plate, and due to the narrowness of the connecting portion 13, adjacent portions of the belt Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent: Y

1. A device of the class described, coinprising a concave front plate for engagementwith the outer surface of a garment and having upwardly-extending wing portions for receiving the front of the gar ment therebetween and having a downwardly-extending bar connected to the plate at its upper edge intermediate said wing portions and spaced from said plate to permit of the insertion of the belt therebetween, said bar terminating at its lower end in a transversely-extending sleeve, a pivot pin extending through said sleeve, and a pin having one end thereof encircling said pivot pin and having a rearwardly-extending,portion normally at substantially right angles to said bar and having an upwardly-extending' portion substantially parallel to said bar and spaced from said bar to receive therebetween the lower portion of the waist.

2. A device of the class described coniprising a front plate for engagement with the outer surface of the garment and having upwardly and outwardly extending wing portions, a downwardly extending bar at the rear of the plate and having a transverse member at its upper end connected to the said plate at the upper edgeof the latter intermediate said wing portions, the bar being spaced from said plate to permit the insertion of the belt therebetween, said bar terminating at its lower end in sleeves, a pivot pin arranged in said sleeves, and a pin bent at right angles adjacent one end to form a short connecting portion, the end of which is bent to engage said pivot pin.

'In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the. presence of two subscribing witnesses. f

FRANK MICHAEL KEARNS. lVitnesses Giro. WV. JONES, I-I. M. JOHNSTON.

soV 

